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Need more light in your life? You might just get it, courtesy of
a congressional amendment that would extend daylight-saving time by
two months.

The Upton-Markey amendment--named for co-sponsors Rep. Fred
Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA)--would move
daylight-saving time back to the first Sunday in March and ahead to
the last Sunday in November.

Proponents of the time change say small companies would benefit.
"More Americans would be out in the evening, exercising,
shopping," says Markey. "There are huge economic benefits
to small-business owners."

Another benefit could be saving 10,000 barrels of oil a day,
since companies wouldn't use as much electricity. "The
more daylight we have, the less electricity we use. It's that
simple," Upton said in an April statement.

Critics of the move point to studies that found minimal energy
savings when daylight-saving time was lengthened briefly in the
1970s. Additionally, states will have the right to opt out if the
amendment should become law, and a few industries might find dark
winter days actually increase business. But backers say they've
seen the light. "Daylight," says Markey, "just
brings a smile to everybody's face."